Suspect wounded after exchange of gunfire with Newark police

Google MapsA suspect was wounded after exchanging gunfire with police who had approached him.

NEWARK — A drug suspect was in stable stable condition today after he was wounded in an exchange of gunfire with two city police officers, officials said.

It was the second police-involved shooting in the city in two days, officials said.

The shooting occurred about 11 p.m. Tuesday after the officers approached the unidentified suspect near 6th Street and 16th Avenue in the city’s West Ward, said Det. Hubert Henderson, department spokesman.

The suspect ran and as officers pursued, he reportedly pulled a handgun from his waist and pointed it at the officers, said Henderson. The suspect then approached an officer and fired once, but missed, Henderson said.

The officers then shot the suspect several times, he said. The suspect was found with drugs, he said.

As is customary in police shootings, the department’s Internal Affairs office and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office are investigating, said acting Police Director Samuel A. DeMaio.

"However, these types of pro-active patrols that net criminals with bad intentions toward cops and civilians will continue through the summer as we reach into our neighborhoods and work with our residents to address crime and quality-of-life issues."

The suspect was listed in stable condition at University Hospital, where he was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer and drug and firearm offenses. The suspect was not identified, pending confirmation of his identity, Henderson said.

On Monday, a man was shot in the foot by Newark police after he allegedly pointed a weapon at them.